"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Just when everything was runnin' clean
I heard a big bang from the back of my brain
Like a rusty gear I'm grindin' at my teeth
Hopin' I don't break down 'til I'm outta the rain
Soakin' wet I can't forget what happened here
I get goin' pretty fast and
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I thought it might be gone at last
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I think I'm havin' my last laugh, that's when I crash
Swimmin' in and out of interstate
Watchin' the breaklights bleed like the look in my eye
Speedin' up to lose the love I left behind
But every headlight stares like it sees through my lie
With the windows down I never hear the sound
Breakin' on me with a blast and
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I thought it might be gone at last
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I think I'm havin' my last laugh, that's when I crash
Lala lalala la la
Soakin' wet I can't forget what happened here
I get goin' pretty fast
Before I notice
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I thought it might be gone at last
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I think I'm havin' my last laugh, that's when I crash
I heard a big bang from the back of my brain
Like a rusty gear I'm grindin' at my teeth
Hopin' I don't break down 'til I'm outta the rain
Soakin' wet I can't forget what happened here
I get goin' pretty fast and
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I thought it might be gone at last
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I think I'm havin' my last laugh, that's when I crash
Swimmin' in and out of interstate
Watchin' the breaklights bleed like the look in my eye
Speedin' up to lose the love I left behind
But every headlight stares like it sees through my lie
With the windows down I never hear the sound
Breakin' on me with a blast and
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I thought it might be gone at last
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I think I'm havin' my last laugh, that's when I crash
Lala lalala la la
Soakin' wet I can't forget what happened here
I get goin' pretty fast
Before I notice
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I thought it might be gone at last
That's when I crash into my past
Just when I think I'm havin' my last laugh, that's when I crash
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
That's When I Crash Lyrics as written by William James Iii Mc Auley
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.